First Minister welcomes Downing Street’s commitment on Remploy

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones has written to the Prime Minister to welcome his commitment this week to consider proposals to devolve responsibility for Remploy factories to Wales.

Thursday 22 March 2012

Earlier this month, the UK Government announced plans to close seven of the nine factories in Wales, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

Welsh Government Minister’s have repeatedly called on the UK Government to look at the proposal to devolve the Remploy budget for the next three years to help Ministers in Wales develop a sustainable future for some of the factories.

In the House of Commons this week the Prime Minister did not rule out the idea.

Now the First Minister has written directly to David Cameron to welcome his statement and call on him to urgently explore options for Remploy factories in Wales.

The First Minister said:

"I welcome the Prime Ministers comments this week that he would look carefully at our constructive proposals. That is why I have written to him to explore the possibility of devolving the funding for Remploy factories in Wales for the next three years to the Welsh Government.

"Such a move would allow us to develop a range of options to support workers at the factories. We want to create a lasting solution. Workers at Remploy are some of the most disadvantaged in society and we want to explore all options to help them.

"The current 90 day consultation is too short and doesn’t reflect the complexities of the situation. Devolving the budget to the Welsh Government would give us a chance to try and make the business profitable and secure a long-term future for the employees. I want to urgently work with the UK Government to agree how we do this."